'Commuter' couples tackle challenge of long-distance marriage

Glen and Jenn Wall recently spent their 20th anniversary apart because of work. That was no big deal compared to the nearly 1,000 miles that separated them for two years while he worked in the oil boom of Stanley, N.D., and she taught school and fanned the home fires in Utah's Uintah Basin.

“Spouses left at home have to deal with all the household problems: plumbing that doesn't work, financial decisions to make, all the child rearing and discipline and all the chores usually shared by two. Spouses not at home are lonely, isolated and feeling out of touch with your family”

Popular Comments

My family and I have been doing this for over a year now. I live and work in LA
and my family is in Utah. It sucks but you do what you have to do! Does anyone
know if you can write off the second residence as a business expense?

10:41 a.m. Aug. 13, 2012

Top comment

IndeMak

South Jordan, UT

I did it for nearly 4 years in Las Vegas. I lived at home but managed resorts
all over the country. I was home for two days of each month. I was fortunate
enough to have a great wife that would take care of the kids, school, etc but it
really put a
More..

12:23 p.m. Aug. 13, 2012

Top comment

Nan BW

ELder, CO

We did this in the 1970s when my spouse was finishing grad school. I lived in a
home we owned in CO, and he lived in a minimal apartment in OH. I took children
to child care in temps as extreme as -40, and we eked out a living with my
parttime
More..

Lois M. Collins is a reporter and columnist for the Deseret News. While she writes primarily on health and family issues for the national and news sections, she also writes a biweekly column and her work appears often in more ..